Thursday, January 22, 2009

Green Hell - The Misfits

Artist: The Misfits
Song: Green Hell
Year: 1983
Album: Earth A.D.

The classic punk rock band with horror overtones. It's easy to like the Misfits. They wrote many great short bursts of pure punk delight. I had heard of them through reading music magazines. I would always see their iconic skull for sale on shirts in the classified section of those magazines. I would make a list of what music shirts I would eventually obtain, when I had the money.

I had heard the music many times, but I never connected the music with the band. My first exposure to the Misfits was through Metallica, or so I thought. One of my cousins had actually played Misfits albums before I ever heard the Garage Days EP by Metallica.

"Green Hell" has always been a memorable song for me. I can remember thinking that this was real headbanging music, when I heard Metallica's version. I tried to decipher the lyrics, but found that it was next to impossible. It was only when I heard the original version that I first heard the lyrics more clearly.

This was also my first exposure to Glenn Danzig. I would follow him through many other incarnations throughout the years. None were as satisfying and as joyful as the Misfits though. I'm certainly glad that he and Jerry Only settled their legal differences. I finally saw the Misfits on August 8, 1997, when they opened up for Megadeth. Yes, they played "Green Hell".

Lyrics:
Here in this place lies the genie of death,
touch it, see it, whoa!
Here in this place is the means to your end,
touch it, feel it, green hell

You did your best as someone could
I bet you never knew you woke it
And don't you run away from me
I bet you thought you really could in hell

Were gonna burn in
Hell, green hell
Like every hell but kind of green in
hell, green hell
Were gonna face the mess were in in
hell, green hell
Think I'd rather be up here in
hell, green hell
You know, I fuckin' shake apart in
hell, green hell
Gotta find a way that you will stay
green hell
Cannot forget about the heat in
hell, green hell
Hell is green, I need a flame
hell, green hell
Gonna burn in hell
Green Hell

You did your best as someone could
I bet you never knew you woke it
And don't you run away from me
I bet you thought you really could take it

Here in this place is the genie of death
touch it, see it whoa!
Here in this place is a war to your end
touch it, feel it green hell

You did your best as someone could
I bet you never knew you woke it
And don't you run away from me
I bet you thought you really could
You did your best as no one could
I bet you thought you really could
Were gonna burn in hell

Green Hell

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